Two Charged with Theft of Batteries from UK Broadband Street Cabinets

Last year we reported that the Kent Police had arrested four people in connection with the theft of batteries from “telecoms boxes” (i.e. street cabinets used by broadband providers), cables and other equipment (here), which caused some areas to lose internet connectivity. Two people have now been charged with 40 offences – Levi Backett (38) and a 15-year-old boy.

Just to recap. Officers from Kent Police’s Rural Task Force originally traced a vehicle suspected to be linked to the thefts around the South East to a location near Gillingham on Monday 7th October 2024. The investigation ultimately recovered more than 100 batteries, along with a lot of cables, the vehicle itself, a trailer, a vehicle engine and several heavy power tools.

The criminals targeted roadside cabinets between 24th September and 4th October last year in Canterbury, Herne Bay, West Malling, Eynsford in Dartford and Claygate in Surrey. The total value of the missing equipment was placed at £18,750. But in the end Levi Backett was charged with 23 counts of theft and the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with 17 theft offences on the same day (Kent Online). Both appeared yesterday before the Medway Magistrates’ Court.

Network operators, such as Openreach and Virgin Media, sometimes put batteries in street cabinets. Each one can cost around £500 and they usually kick-in during power outages. But unfortunately such equipment, along with valuable copper telecoms cables, is often targeted by criminal gangs. However, the perpetrators of such crimes don’t always get away with it, particularly as such equipment is often forensically tagged and can be traced (here).

Sadly, the perpetrators of such crimes never have any regard for the harm they cause to locals, some of which are dependent upon related services for vital emergency and health contacts.